The second in Thomas’s Fitzhugh romance trilogy is set against the realism of 19th-century English arranged marriages. To fill the empty coffers of his family’s estate, Lord Fitzhugh must marry Millie Graves, a prosperous manufacturer’s daughter. While neither Millie nor Fitz has much choice in the matter, Fitz bemoans the fact that he cannot wed his childhood love, Isabelle Pelham. Millie, mature beyond her teen years, is aware of her fiancé’s aversion and proposes a marriage of convenience for a term of eight years. But Millie does not anticipate that, after eight years of friendship with Fitz, her unrequited love for him will deepen. Fitz and Millie’s romantic tension grows as they renegotiate their marriage terms, while newly widowed Isabelle returns to England, forcing Fitz to make some life-changing decisions. Millie’s intellect and selflessness make her a standout among a cast of memorable characters in this expertly plotted and emotionally wrenching love story. Agent: Kristin Nelson, the Nelson Agency. (July)